Microfilm projection viewer having manual lens adjusting and film moving means



Sept. 13, 1949. E. F. LINDNER I 2,481,350

MICROFILM PROJECTION VIEWER HAVING MANUAL LENS ADJUSTING AND FILM MOVING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1946 E. F. LINDNER Sept. 13, 1949.

HICROFILM PROJECTION VIEWER HAVING MANUAL LENS ADJUSTING AND ILM MOVING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1946 lllmlmm. mlllmm. llmlllllu lllllllhummmn lllmlulllll- "lllflli lln lllllllllll wwmvroz JfrOP/VEY Patented Sept. 13, 1 949, 7 V 4 MICROFILM MANUAL MOVING MEANS PROJECTION Vin LENS ADJUSTING wnans'vme Edmund F. Lindner, New York, N. Y. Application December 5, 1946, Serial No. 714,243

4 Claims.

This invention relates to film projection apparatus, and relates more particularly to an improved microfilm projector of relatively small proportions which is designed primarily, although not exclusively, for the projection of telephone directories or other quick reference works.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved microfilm viewer which is arranged to quickly project a selected one of a plusupporting reels to the desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a microfilm viewer of small dimensions but capable of reat enlargement of the data in the film, in order to permit a relatively large amount of material to be contained on a film of fairly short length. This is important in the case of reference works, since the value of microfilm in this connection is directly proportional to the speed in locating the desired data.

column on the viewing screen.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a projection system I ly arranged areas, and also by each other.

a predetermined arrangement of the mirror'surfaces relative to In the drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken through an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a broken section taken on line 3--8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 6-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a broken section taken on line $6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectiontaken of the upper section of the housing.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view in perspectiveshowing the arrangement of the projected image, the mirrors, and the viewing screen. The device of the present invention may comprise a housing having a base wall it, opposed side walls ii and The opposite ends of the shafts are non-circular, as shown at 30, and are received within similarly-shaped slots 3| in drive shafts 28 and 29 which are journalled in bearings 33 in opposite side wall H and bearings 34 intermediate n-circular shaft porraised. the spring clips are removed, and the reels are lifted from their bearings.

When film is being wound on one reel or the viewed as in Fig. 1, similar rotation to first driving gear 4| is imparted by means of a pawl 43 carried by such gear II which engages a ratchet onaco 3 wheel 4| keyed to shaft 88. Thus, driving gear ll rotates a pinion 45 carried on stub shaft 48. Also keyed to this shaft is a driving gear 41 which meshes with a pinion 5| carried on shaft 29 which supports film reel 22.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when I shaft 88 is rotated in a clockwise direction, when positely-facing pawl 52 carried on second drivin gear "engages a ratchet wheel 53 keyed to shaft 38. Thus, counter-clockwise rotation is imed to second driving gear 42, which, in turn, meshes with a pinion 5| carried on stub shaft 85. Also keyed to this shaft is a gear 56 which meshes with a pinion 51 carried on shaft 28. Thus, counter-clockwise rotation is imparted to shaft 28- and film reel 2|, and the film is accordingly wound on such reel.

A light housing 8| is mounted on removable cover l1. Within this light housing a light source 82 is mounted, and a reflector 63 is arranged in spaced relation to the light source. The beam of light is directed through a narrow transverse opening 8! in such upper wall l1, whereupon it strikes the film 28 as the same passes over a platen 85 which is fitted with a light opening 66 which registers with opening 64. A lens tube 18 which supports lenses 1| is carried on a slide 12 mounted for transverse movement on trackways 13 associated with platen 85. It was earlier pointed out that the indicla on the film is printed in a plurality of longitudinally-arranged columns,

'as shown at I5 in Fig. '7. The beam from the source of light strikes the film over its entire width, although only that portion of the indicla is projected which is adjacent the lens tube in any selected one of the several transverse positions.

The means for moving the lens tube and its supporting slide 12 are as follows. A rack 1 associated with the lower surface of slide 12.

This rack is arranged to be engaged by a seg-;

mental gear 88 carried on a shaft 8| which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 19. The gear is moved throughan are by means of a rod 82 which passes through spaced supports 83 and 85 carried on gear 80 and providing a mounting for the rod to permit longitudinal movement thereof. The rod is urged downwardly, when viewed as in Fig. 6, by means of a coil spring 89 carried adjacent the lower end of such rod. The lower end of t e c il s i -e ages a stop 84, and the upper end engages support 85 carried on the gear 88. At its'upper end, rod 82 carries a finger piece 81 which is removable from the rod when cover I! is to be raised. Upper wall i1 is formed with a sidewise extension 98 having an arcuate upper surface 9| which is provided with a narrow slot 92 through which rod 82 may travel during its arcuate movement. At spaced intervals such slot 82 is provided with enlarged, generally circular portions 93.

It will thus be seen that to move slide I2 which carries lens tube to any selected transverse position, finger piece 81 carried on rod 82 is raised, thus disengaging cylindrical portion 88 below the finger piece from one of the circular openings 93 in arcuate portion 9i. This frees accordingly slide 12.

red 82 for\ arcuate movement, and as the same is moved, gear segment 80 moves rack "and At the lower end of. the casing' the image is projected on a mirror 8|. which, in turn, reflects the image to a second mirror 96, and from thence the image is projected upon screen l8 In most instances these mirrors will be plane mirrors, although in some instances one or both of the mirrors may be otherwise formed. The number of mirrors employed may vary, depending upon a number of factors.

While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to a specific application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the.

invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof. a

What I claim is:

1. A projector for micro-film which has indicla printed thereon, said projector comprising a pair of reels upon which the film is carried and is adapted to be wound and unwound, a light source arranged to project a beam of light through the film, a viewing screen, a mirror arranged to refiect the image from the film to the screen, and a lens system arranged to move transversely of the film to project indicla in a selected area of the film upon the screen, a trackway disposed transversely of the film, a slide carrying the lens sys- .tem and mounted for travel on said trackway, a

toothed rack carried by said slide, a segmental igear mounted for pivotal movement and engaging the teeth of said rack, a manually movable lever carried by the gear, and releasable means for securing the lever in an adjusted fixed position.

2. A projector for micro-film which has indicla.

printed thereon in a plurality of columns, said projector comprising a housing, a pair of reels journalled within the housing and upon which the film is carried and is adapted to be wound and unwound, a light source arranged to project a beam of light through the film, a translucent viewing screen, a mirror arranged to reflect the image from the film to the screen, and a projection lens arranged to move transversely of the film to project indicla in a selected column upon the screen, supporting means for the lens including a slidena trackway for the slide, a toothed rack carried by the slide, a segmental gear engaging the rack teeth, a manually movable lever carried by the gear provided with an extensible sleeve associated with the lever, and an arcuate plate having a slot with spaced, enlarged portions for receiving the sleeve to secure the lever in an adjusted fixed position.

3. A projector for micro-film which has indicia printed thereon in a plurality of columns, said projector comprising a pair of reels upon which the film is carried and is adapted to be wound and unwound, a platen having a light opening over which the film travels, a light source arate plate having a slot in which the lever travels, carried by the support, a pivoted gear whose and means for securing the lever in an adjusted, 5 teeth engage the rack teeth, a lever carried by the journalled within the housing and upon which 10 opening to opening to an adjusted, fixed position.

the film is carried and is adapted to he wound and EDMUND F. LINDNER. unwound, a drive shaft provided with gear trains for rotating such reels, ratchet means associated REFERENCES CITED with the gear trains for driving one of the reels The f llo i r f r n are of record in the when the drive shaft is rotated in one direction 15 me of this patent;

in the opposite direction. a light source arranged UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS to project a beam of light through the film, a Number Name Date translucent viewing screen associated with one 1,339,575 sebme No 29, 1932 of the walls of the housing, a plurality of mirrors 20 1,913,463 Harding July 13 1933 arranged to reflect the image from the film to the ,0 2 Hopkin July 23' 1935 screen, a projection lens arranged to move trans- 2 37,705 Chapman APR 21, 1936 versely of the film to project indicia in a selected 2,125,582 Pratt et al Aug. 2, 1938 

